The Adoption Advocate is a publication created by NCFA to educate policymakers, families, child welfare specialists, and other interested parties on today's most relevant child welfare and adoption issues. This publication is edited by Christie Renick, Chuck Johnson, and Ryan Hanlon. You can sign up to receive the Adoption Advocate by email each month by signing up for our email list.

Posted December 1, 2014

Authored By: Kris Faasse, Sarah Horton Bobo, and Angela Magnuson

It's important to recognize that adoption is a lifelong experience, and acknowledge the challenges for many of those touched by it. In the December 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, authors Kris Faasse, Sarah Horton Bobo, and Angela Magnuson outline some of the ways that adoption service providers can help adoptees, adoptive family members, and birth family members find and remain connected to vital, long-term support within the broader adoption community.

Posted November 1, 2014

The Joys and Challenges of Parenting Older Adopted Children

Authored By: Dr. Gary Matloff

Children adopted at older ages—especially those from the U.S. foster care system—typically come to their new families with some history of trauma, abuse, or neglect, and a storehouse of unresolved emotions. But adopting and parenting older children comes with unique joys and rewards as well as challenges. In the November 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, psychologist and adoptive father Dr. Gary Matloff discusses and shares valuable tips for families that have welcomed older children through adoption.

Posted October 1, 2014

Preparation and Support for Older Child Adoptions: NCFA Survey and Conference Feedback

Authored By: Jamel Rowe, with Melissa Blauvelt and Rhonda Jarema

Families adopting older children via public or intercountry adoption face a unique set of challenges, as do the agencies that seek to serve and support them. In the October 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, former NCFA Legal Fellow Jamel Rowe collects and analyzes results from an older child adoption survey conducted in 2013 by Melissa Blauvelt and Rhonda Jarema. Participating adoptive families and adoption agencies identified several areas of concern, with a particular emphasis on pre-adoption preparation and post-adoption support.

Posted September 2, 2014

Creating Trauma-Informed Classrooms

With another school year beginning, it is important for teachers and school administrators to understand the impact of trauma, abuse, neglect, and other risk factors in a child's history that can affect his or her ability to learn and feel safe and connected in the classroom. In the September 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, co-authors Casey Call, Karyn Purvis, Sheri R. Parris, and David Cross share the results from different schools employing Trust-Based Relationship Intervention® (TBRI®), and emphasize the power of safe, nurturing relationships in the classroom--particularly for children from "hard places."

Posted August 1, 2014

Choosing an Adoption Agency

Authored By: Chuck Johnson

Adoption agencies have ethical and professional obligations to both expectant parents considering adoption and prospective adoptive parents. In the August issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, "Choosing an Adoption Agency," NCFA president and CEO Chuck Johnson lists some considerations and questions for expectant parents and families to consider as they begin to research potential agencies.

Posted July 1, 2014

Agency Liability: What Adoption Service Providers and Families Need to Know

Authored By: Michele Jackson

The adoption process involves liability in multiple areas, including financial accountability, information disclosure, communication with clients, and the actions and supervision of employees. In the July 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, Michele Jackson explains the current requirements for licensed agencies for the benefit of both adoption service providers and prospective adoptive families.

Posted June 1, 2014

What are the Factors Leading to Broken Adoptions?

Authored By: Dawn J. Post

While broken adoptions represent only a small percentage of adoptions, it is crucial for adoption and child welfare advocates to study these cases in order to better understand the contributing factors and help prevent future broken adoptions. In the June 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, Dawn J. Post of the Children’s Law Center New York (CLCNY) describes the results of a six-month case study undertaken to examine cases of children whose adoptions did not result in lasting permanency.

Posted May 1, 2014

The Importance of Maintaining Sibling Connections in Foster Care

Authored By: Dr. Robert White and Samantha Jernstrom

In the May 2014 National Foster Care Month issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, co-authors Dr. Robert White and Samantha Jernstrom explain the importance of maintaining sibling connections for youth in foster care. Research has shown that these connections can have a profound impact on the wellbeing of children in foster care. When sibling co-placement and the preservation of sibling groups is not possible, every effort should be made to help youth in care maintain strong, healthy, and supportive relationships with their brothers and sisters.

Posted April 1, 2014

The Role of Facilitators in Adoption

Authored By: Karen S. Law, Esq. and Teresa M. McDonough, ACSW

In the April 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, authors Karen S. Law, Esq. and Teresa McDonough, ACSW examine the recent rise in the use of unlicensed and typically unregulated adoption intermediaries or facilitators. They explain the significant risks for expectant parents and prospective parents who work with a facilitator as opposed to a licensed agency or attorney, and include a list of recommendations for those considering adoption.

Posted March 1, 2014

Mental Health Professionals’ Attitudes and Expectations About Adoption and Adopted Children

Authored By: Dawn K. Kriebel, Ph.D. and Kathleen Whitten, Ph.D.

In the March 2014 issue of NCFA's Adoption Advocate, psychologists Dr. Dawn Kriebel and Dr. Kathleen Whitten examine expectations and training/education needs among mental health professionals serving members of the adoption triad, particularly adopted children. Dr. Kriebel and Dr. Whitten briefly review recent published studies about the adjustment of adopted children, and present their own research findings on clinicians' attitudes and beliefs regarding adoptees.